‘Yellowstone': Season 1 Finale Leaves the Duttons Divided + an Enemy Hanging [Spoilers Alert]

Yellowstone Season 1 came to the end of its run on CBS on Sunday night (Oct. 22), when Episode 9 wrapped up the first-ever mainstream network run of the show. The premiere season ended on a dramatic note, with the Dutton family divided, while an enemy is left hanging — literally.

Episode 9 is titled "The Unraveling, Pt. 2," and it picks up where last week left off, with Rip (Cole Hauser) under investigation for shooting a bear. John Dutton (Kevin Costner) comes to his rescue, proving that the sheriff is hiding evidence that exonerates Rip.

Elsewhere in Yellowstone Season 1, Episode 9:

• John tells Beth (Kelly Reilly) to hire a new family lawyer, as Jamie (Wes Bentley) has chosen himself over the family. He comes out against Jamie running for Attorney General, only to be told he should step down as Livestock Commissioner amid ongoing investigations.
•  John also tells Beth to put the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch in a trust and to never sell it, as he is trying to preserve the family's way of life for future generations.
• Rip drafts a woman named Avery (Tanaya Beatty) from the local strip club to spy on Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) and Dan Jenkins (Danny Huston) as they conspire against the Yellowstone, and he rewards with her with a place in the bunkhouse — which creates quite a stir among the men.
• Kayce (Luke Grimes) returns home to the Yellowstone after Monica (Kelsey Asbille) decides to return to the reservation with Tate (Brecken Merrill).
• Jimmy (Jefferson White) continues to struggle to find his place in the pecking order of the ranch.
• The reporter who's been looking into the Duttons convinces Jamie to go on the record against his father in order to help himself and his campaign.
• Beth and John share an unexpectedly tender father-daughter moment amid family tensions, but it's short-lived.

The season ends with Kayce, Rip, Jimmy and Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith) kidnapping Dan Jenkins in broad daylight and sitting him on a horse in the middle of nowhere with a noose around his neck. After the defiant developer confirms his plans for the valley and tells them John's choice is to sell his land or lose it, they leave him there hanging from the noose after shooing his horse away, seemingly dooming him to death.

CBS has not yet announced a schedule for Yellowstone Season 2. The second half of Yellowstone's Season 5 on Paramount Network has been delayed due to the actors strike, with no further information available.

As part of Taste of Country's comprehensive coverage of all things Yellowstone, check out our Dutton Rules podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.